Martinelli-Irvine said unless people start donating money very quickly, the shelter is in danger of having to close its doors.

"We don't think people are aware of the suffering, the neglect and the disease of these animals when they come here," she said.

"People will call and say, 'I don't want this thing.' They actually call it a thing. And we get animals left at our back door -- and in this weather too. It just breaks my heart."

Martinelli-Irvine said the shelter usually sees a drop in financial donations after the Christmas season, but this year it has dropped precipitously.

As well, the bitter and prolonged frigid temperatures this season have seen the dogs and cats come in with cold-related injuries that have to be treated at a veterinarian paid for by the shelter. There are now 85 animals in the shelter while another 200 animals are on their waiting list. About 1,000 animals go through the shelter annually.

The shelter is in so much trouble, it is now behind in several of its bills.

"We're here to help, but now we need help," she said.

Martinelli-Irvine said the shelter has a Helping Hero program in which people pledge amounts starting at $10 a month to come out of their bank account or off their credit card, but she's hoping more can sign up.

"We live in a city of 750,000 people and we only have 173 people giving $10 per month," she said.

"If I can get three per cent of the city to give us $10 per month, that would help us immensely."

Martinelli-Irvine is not only praying for numerous smaller donations, she is also praying for a deep- pocketed angel.

"I need $100,000 to pay off all the bills, get a fresh start and start a marketing campaign," she said.

"I think people have just forgotten us."

You don't have to convince our community's youth the shelter is needed.

Joanna Fultz, of the Winnipeg Foundation, says every year when it runs its Youth in Philanthropy program, in which student groups at city schools are given $5,000 to hand out to local charities, several of them donate to the shelter after visiting it.

"We had four or five donations sent to the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter last year."

Susan Murray, who has been volunteering at the shelter for about five years, credits it with helping her after the death of her husband.

"I was so fortunate," Murray said recently.

"They took me in when I was at my lowest point and they made me part of their family. But as they say, the shelter didn't just help me, I'm helpful to them."

Murray, who said she has always been a dog person, has found through volunteering she is now a cat person. Not only does she love volunteering to help cats, by cleaning their litter boxes and sterilizing the cages, she has even adopted one of the felines, a cat named appropriately, Kitty.

"She came in from a farm with her fur matted right to her skin," she said.

"We shaved her right down and that's when we found a huge lump on her hip. We took her to the vet and it was just a cyst. I've had her now for four years."

Murray said at first, when she was living nearby, she volunteered five days a week.

"Now I come less often, but I help with their fundraisers and I go around the city picking up the (coin bank) tins at restaurants and stores."

Martinelli-Irvine said it was Musky and her parents' advice that inspired her years later to found the no-kill shelter.

"I always remember the first day we got a dog. My mom and dad said, 'It is your responsibility. You have to look after him.'

"And then my dad said, 'This is a live animal. You can't return it. He is yours forever.' "

The shelter opened its doors in 1999 at 3062 Portage Ave. Before that, Martinelli-Irvine owned a traditional pet supply store, Pet Pals, where she sold only supplies not animals.

"I've been in this business for 28 years," Martinelli-Irvine said. "I've always wanted to help animals. I never believed in selling them for profit."

She said all of the animals in the shelter are adoptable.

"If they're sick, we'll fix them before they go out."

Martinelli-Irvine said since the day it opened, her shelter has not received government support, only private donations.

She said she hopes some money generated by the city's new cat-licensing program will filter down to it, but if so, it wouldn't start coming in until next year.

Martinelli-Irvine said people drop off their pets for myriad reasons, but for every senior who is moving into a senior centre that doesn't allow them to keep their beloved pet, there are other people with lesser reasons.

"We get a lot of people who say their life style has changed. We say 'what do you mean? All you have to do is feed them, give them shelter and love them?'

"But we also have people who say they have new furniture and their fur doesn't match the new couch."

To generate cash to keep the shelter going, it sells pet food, as well as an array of other things including dog and cat toys, leashes and litter boxes.

Other ways of helping include picking up a special Air Miles card at the shelter which, when using it, sends the points directly back to the shelter, or bringing in your old cellphone which, through the Charitable Recycling Program of Canada, ends up sending a monetary donation to the shelter.

Murray said she hopes Winnipeggers -- and Manitobans -- donate money to help the shelter continue its mission.

The Children's Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, is holding its annual Shiver Ball on Feb. 28. The fundraiser, being held at the Delta Winnipeg, features a dinner and dance with music provided by Danny Kramer, and silent and live auctions. Tickets cost $180 per person. For tickets call Jonathan at 204-945-9474 or email jonathan.frate@childrenswish.ca.

Books needed

The Children's Hospital Book Market is still looking for books to sell. The massive annual fundraising sale of books, usually held in April, isn't being scheduled until enough books come in -- fast. Books can be dropped off at any of the city's fire halls, Dufresne furniture stores or StorageVille sites. For more information, call 204-783-1125 or go to www.goodbear.mb.ca.

Rock to Harlequin

L'Arche Winnipeg is holding a Sub Zero Cruise Event with the band Harlequin on March 8. A buffet dinner and concert is $25 while the concert alone is $12.50 plus tax. Tickets can be bought at the L'Arche Tova Café at 119 Regent Ave. W., the L'Arche office at 118 Regent Ave. W., the front desk of the Canad Inns Destination Centre Transcona, or by calling 204-694-SHOW (7469).

TV star assists

Reaching E-Quality Employment Services (REES) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an awards gala featuring Bill Klein of TLC's The Little Couple on June 5. The event is being held at Canad Inns Polo Park and tickets are $150. For more information go to www.reesawards.ca/info@re-es.org or call 832-REES (7337).

Help dogs and cats

A pair of comedy shows are coming to the aid of local animal groups next month. A Fantastically Funny Furry Fundraiser is being held at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel to benefit the Manitoba Great Pyrenees Rescue on March 9. Featuring comedy by Raise the Woof in their first Winnipeg appearance, tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at several locations including the Pet Valu locations on Main Street, Meadowood, Reenders and Steinbach or by calling 204-771-8045. Meanwhile, the comedy troupe will also help It's a Dog's Life Fostering Network and Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter on March 28, 7 p.m., at the Corydon Community Centre, Crescentwood site. Tickets are $20 and can be bought at the shelter at 3062 Portage Ave., or by emailing Carrie Wilkins at kenoradogslife@gmail.com.

Fundraiser dinner

The Canadian Multicultural Disability Centre is holding a fundraising dinner on March 22. The event, which runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., is being held at the Lord Roberts Community Centre at 725 Kylemore Ave. Tickets are $20 and can be bought by calling 204-453-0391.

Auction for St. Amant

The St. Amant Spirited Art Soiree is being held on March 13 to benefit the St. Amant Research Centre. The event features an auction of art created by children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism. Call 204-258-7052 or go to stamant.ca/artsoiree to buy a ticket for $150 with a partial charitable tax receipt of $110.

Bikers help people with Cerebral Palsy

The 25th annual Cerebral Palsy Stationary Bike Race is cycling away at the Wellness Centre on March 8, and in Brandon on March 15 at the Town Centre. Teams of 14 members will pedal away, with each person cycling for 25 minutes. To make a donation or sponsor a rider, call 204-982-4842 or email bikerace@cerebralpalsy.mb.ca

CNIB art auction

The annual Eye on the Arts Benefit Auction is being held March 20 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre to benefit the CNIB. The auction, which will see more than 200 works of art put on the block, begins at 7 p.m. with preview at 5 p.m and dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased by calling Glenda or Wanda at 204-774-5421.

Prairie Theatre Exchange fundraiser

Food and wine are being featured at a fundraiser for Prairie Theatre Exchange on March 21. The PTE Pairings features food samples from five local restaurants spread out in stations at PTE from 7 to 10 p.m. The partner restaurants this year are Chew, Deseo, Food Evolution, Fusion Grill and Mise. The evening also includes sampling from 10 local producers with everything from salsa (Delicious Kicks) to ice cream (Cornell Creme). Each food station is paired with wines from Kenaston Wine Market. Tickets are $100 ($45 tax receipt) and can be bought by phone at 204-925-5257.

Buy bowl of chill -- help people living with kidney disease

It will be 'Where's the Chili?' at Wendy's restaurants in Winnipeg in March. The fast food chain is celebrating the 12th annual Kidney Health Month/World Kidney Day by allowing patrons to buy and display paper chili cups for $1 and by donating a portion of the price of chili bought during the month the the Manitoba branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Local celebrities will be in the restaurants on World Kidney Day on March 13 during the lunch hour including the Team Chelsea Carey curling team which won bronze at the recent Scotties tournament.

DASCH honours Fred Penner

Musician Fred Penner will be honoured and help celebrate the 40th anniversary of DASCH at a luncheon on April 10. The 12th annual DASCH awards luncheon, a fundraiser for the organization which provides housing and supports for adults living with disabilities, is being held in the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel Fort Garry. The event features a performance by the Winnipeg Youth Chorus and the DASCH Vocal Ensemble. Tickets cost $90. Currently, there are 12 individuals who are institutionalized who are waiting to move to a DASCH home so the organization is currently fundraising to buy five homes. For more information or tickets call 204-987-1556.

Fight colon cancer with game

The country's largest rock, paper, scissors tournament will battle colon cancer on March 22. Handemonium2014 is being held at the University of Manitoba's University Centre from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will be broken into 'weight classes' based on total amount of fundraising. Registration is $20 with proceeds going to CancerCare Manitoba's colon cancer initiatives. To register or learn more about the event go to www.handemonium.ca

Former soldier honoured for volunteering

Andrew McLean, a retired Canadian Forces soldier who continuously volunteers in the community, is being honoured with the Sir Hugh John Macdonald Memorial Award at the seventh annual Spring Fling in support of the Macdonald Youth Services' education trust fund on March 20. McLean co-founded Soldier On, which uses sports as a rehabilitative tool for soldiers with physical disabilities. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling 204-949-6519.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments.
All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.